Program Promotes Vision

Groups Give Free Eyeglasses To Youths

September 11, 1995|By STEVE LIEWER Staff Writer

For 8-year-old Kevin Lubin, the days of squinting at the fuzzy writing on the chalkboard at school are over.

Kevin picked up his stylish new wire-frame eyeglasses in Delray Beach on Sunday. He was one of 90 Palm Beach County youngsters to get free glasses through a program sponsored by the Greater Palm Beach Sightsavers, a newly formed group.

"For me it was so good, I don't know what to say," said Kevin's mother, Gladys Mercure, of Delray Beach. "I knew Kevin was sick in the eyes for some time, but I didn't have much money. I was waiting for the summer to get him some glasses."

A doctor told her a few months ago about the program, which is in partnership with Sightsavers, the Palm Beach County Public Health Unit, the Children's Home Society, LensCrafters and McDonald's.

More than 200 needy children received free eye exams last month from 19 ophthalmologists and optometrists in the county. They also received free eyeglasses then from LensCrafters. On Sunday, each youngster received a pair of glasses and a free ice cream sundae at a local McDonald's.

"Most of the kids are real excited to get them," said Billie Fletcher of the Public Health Unit.

She said getting the glasses relieves families of a big financial burden and helps students who are at risk of dropping out do better in school.

"Glasses are really expensive, by the time you get the exam," said Fletcher who handed out 14 pairs of glasses on Sunday. "It helps the kids with their school work. If they can't see, sometimes the kids get disruptive."

"I didn't know my daughter needed glasses," Haskel Davis said. "It's a blessing that I didn't have to spend $400 that I didn't have. We're living in a cruel world, but there's a lot of good people out there."

Fletcher said the free eyeglass program, called "Vision Sunday '95," will likely be repeated soon.

"There's a lot of need in the community," she said. "There were a lot of people who couldn't get appointments."

For more information, call Greater Palm Beach Sightsavers at (407)697-0005.